Knox County Sheriff candidate Kip Canfield has 35 years of law enforcement experience. The Galesburg native got his start with the Monmouth Police Department then eventually came to the Galesburg Police Department in 1986. After being promoted to sergeant in 2001, Canfield retired in 2006 as we was heading to Jordan to train Iraqi Police. Canfield then spent another year training Afghan Police then in Baghdad with Iraqi Police before becoming the Director of Public Security at Carl Sandburg College. As to why he is running for Knox County Sheriff, Canfield said he felt the need for a change, and he missed the camaraderie. “I was approached because some citizens felt there was a need for a change,” He said. “After considerations with my family and friends and coworkers, we decided to go ahead an announce that I would make that run.” Canfield said priorities for him, if elected, would include appearance and building trust. “I plan to be a uniform-wearing sheriff,” Canfield added. “(I) plan to have a marked vehicle; and will be out patrolling and getting out – talking to the community, meeting with groups. Second thing is, really need to look at the overtime budget. Try to get that under control. When you build trust between the community and law enforcement, those issues will improve.” After trust is gained, he said, filling positions with local candidates that hold the position to a high standard. He wants to hold a shared training budget between the Sheriff Department and local police in municipalities within the county. Canfield also wants to get the neighborhood watches and community emergency response teams working again.
